Iowa running back Ivory Kelly-Martin hands a signed football to a young fan during a Kids Day practice on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.(Photo: Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen)Buy Photo

That’s a reference to Akrum Wadley, who high-stepped his way to back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and into Hawkeye folklore the past two autumns. Wadley was as entertaining of an offensive player as Iowa has produced in recent years.

“He has the ability to make those big plays, whether that be running the ball or catching it out of the backfield,” Stanley continued, referring to the sophomore heir apparent in Kelly-Martin.

Kelly-Martin, speaking to reporters later as his team gets prepared to face Northern Illinois in Saturday’s season-opening game at Kinnick Stadium (2:30 p.m., BTN), agreed with the comparison.

“There’s definitely some traits between me and Akrum,” Kelly-Martin said. “He was a very versatile running back, so I tried to get some of that from him. And also, he was a very smart running back and had a really good knowledge of the game in general, and that’s also something I took from him.”

Ivory Kelly-Martin #21 of the Iowa Hawkeyes carries the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions at of Beaver Stadium on Saturday, October 27, 2018, in State College, Pennsylvania.outside of Beaver Stadium on Saturday, October 27, 2018, in State College, Pennsylvania. Dustin Satloff

Ivory Kelly-Martin #21 of the Iowa Hawkeyes is tackled by Ayron Monroe #23 of the Penn State Nittany Lions at of Beaver Stadium on Saturday, October 27, 2018, in State College, Pennsylvania.outside of Beaver Stadium on Saturday, October 27, 2018, in State College, Pennsylvania. Dustin Satloff

Iowa's Ivory Kelly-Martin (21) runs the ball against Penn State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Knight) Chris Knight, AP

Devonte Young #17 of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Ivory Kelly-Martin #21 of the Iowa Hawkeyes walk out onto the field before a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, October 27, 2018, in State College, Pennsylvania. Dustin Satloff

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant coach Brian Ferentz react with running back Ivory Kelly-Martin (21) during the Wisconsin game. The Hawkeyes have tweaked their bye-week routine a little bit with hopes of getting an improved showing over past years. Jeffrey Becker, USA TODAY Sports

Iowa's Ivory Kelly-Martin breaks away as he runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the Hawkeyes' game against Northern Illinois at Kinnick Stadium on Satuday, Sept. 1, 2018. David Scrivner/For the Press-Citizen

FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2017, file photo, Iowa running back Ivory Kelly-Martin (21) runs from North Texas linebacker Joe Ozougwu, right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Iowa City, Iowa. Sophomore Ivory Kelly-Martin will likely start the season as Iowa’s top running back, according to offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz.
The move could be categorized as a mild surprise given that fellow sophomore Toren Young was listed ahead of Kelly-Martin on a depth chart released earlier in fall camp. But Kelly-Martin, who appeared to be slotted as an option on third downs and in the return game, has shown Iowa’s coaches that he has the potential to an every down back in their system.
The Hawkeyes (8-5 in 2017) host Northern Illinois on Sept. 1. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, FIle) The Associated Press

Iowa running back Ivory Kelly-Martin (21) is tackled by North Texas safety Khairi Muhammad during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) The Associated Press

Iowa's Ivory Kelly-Martin (21) is tackled by North Texas safety Khairi Muhammad (4) during their football game at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Iowa City. Iowa would go on to win 31-14. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa running back Ivory Kelly-Martin reacts as he gets tackled just short of the end zone during the Hawkeyes' game against North Texas at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. Des Moines Register file photo

Iowa running back Ivory Kelly-Martin (21) celebrates with teammates after catching a 3-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 45-16. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) The Associated Press

Iowa running back Ivory Kelly-Martin (21) celebrates with teammates after a 2-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Texas, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) The Associated Press

Kelly-Martin is the lightest back, but promises he can run up the middle

Kelly-Martin is a native of Plainfield, Illinois, and this is a funny story: He was actually being recruited to play at Northern Illinois by assistant coach Kelton Copeland. Copeland then took a job as wide receivers coach at Iowa. He and Kelly-Martin ended up coming here in the same year.

“Just going out there and really showing my best effort and showing that I’m very coachable,” Kelly-Martin said when asked what he did this summer that prompted his rise on the depth chart.

“Being in the starting spot, there’s a little pressure. But we train for this. Coaches will have a great game plan in that I just have to execute.”

Kelly-Martin, at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, is the lightest of Iowa’s three options at running back. If that sounds a little like Wadley, who famously struggled to keep his weight up, Kelly-Martin was also quick to note that he’s more than capable of running through the middle of the line when called upon.

“There’s always a lot of talk about outside perimeter runs with speed backs, and throughout the years I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m an all-around back,” he said. “I can make a move through the middle, being able to get through the holes really fast. That’s a great thing. … Being low, having your pads low and getting those hard yards, I pride myself on that as well.”

Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz told reporters a week ago that Kelly-Martin was capable of being a “four-down” back. That means catching passes, blocking, helping out on special teams.

Kelly-Martin said it also means accepting the less glamorous side of the position, what he called “the little things.”

“Everything besides scoring touchdowns,” he clarified. “Seeing the defense, knowing what’s going on on the offensive side, who’s blocking who and what your job is no matter whether you’re getting the ball or not.”

Kelly-Martin focuses on forging a bigger role in Iowa's passing game

Kelly-Martin played in all 13 games as a true freshman. He rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns. He returned 19 kickoffs with an average of 21.2 yards. He caught only four passes, but one of them produced a touchdown.

That’s the versatility he was talking about. He said he’s been spending much of his time perfecting his role as a receiver, both coming out of the backfield and split out into the slot.

“I worked day in and day out on working on my hands, working on my eyes and working on my routes,” Kelly-Martin said. “And it’s been paying off so far.”

There will be questions about his durability, of course. Carrying a heavy workload as a first-year starter, at his size, may not be feasible. It also doesn’t sound like that’s the plan, with two backups that have earned the coaches’ faith.

“I feel like I can get as many carries as the offense is willing to give me. I’ll be able to produce and I’ll be happy with what I get,” Kelly-Martin said.

The second-year player has already learned the most important thing about being a running back: Always praise the big guys who are trying to clear lanes in front of you. Kelly-Martin said he’s been paying close attention to what his blockers are up to.

“Once you really get into what those offensive linemen are doing, that really helps because they’re going to do their job no matter what,” he said.